Disposable magazine having a protective cover and follower retaining means



July 8, 1969 R. o. FREMONT DISPOSABLB MAGAZINE HAVING A PROTECTIVE COVER AND FOLLOWER RETAINING MEANS Sheet Filed June 19, 1967 INVENTOR. ROBERT D. FREMONT W WWW/2? ATTORNEYS ya) y 8, 1969 R. D. FREMONT 3,453,762

DISPOSABLE MAGAZINE HAVING A PROTECTIVE COVER AND FQLLQWER RETAINING MEANS Filed June 19. 1967 Sheet 3 of 4 5 fmhZ W I08 W /08 1/6 #IIII/IJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfllllhllflfllj y 8, 1969 R. D FREMONT 3,453,762

DISPOSABLE MAGAZINE HAVING A PROTECTIVE COVER AND FOLLQWER RETAINING MEANS Filed June 19, 1967 Sheet 3 01'4 R. D. FREMONT DISPOSABLE MAGAZINE HAVING A PROTECTIVE July 8, 1969 COVER AND FOLLOWBR RETAINING MEANS Filed June 19, 1967 Sheet United States Patent 3,453,762 DISPOSABLE MAGAZINE HAVING A PROTECTIVE COVER AND FOLLOWER RETAINING MEANS Robert D. Fremont, Farmington, Conn., assignor to Colts Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Arizona Filed June 19, 1967, Ser. No. 646,981 Int. Cl. F41c 25/02 US. Cl. 42-50 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An economically disposable weapons supply magazine of plastic, having a driven follower mechanism to successively present cartridges for feeding to the firing chamber of an associated weapon, metallic component structure cooperatively related with the magazine to contain the follower driving forces, and protective cover structure for the magazine.

This invention relates to cartridge magazines for weapons, and more particularly to cartridge magazines which are economically disposable.

Cartridge magazines for weapons traditionally have been made of steel. Advances in the technology of lightweight metal fabrication have enabled industry to produce cartridge magazines of these metals, but these have generally been at least as expensive as the steel units.

It is an object of this invention to provide an economically disposable cartridge magazine.

It is another object of this invent-ion to provide an economically disposable cartridge magazine sufficiently durable to withstand long-term storage under various and extreme conditions and still be fully and substantially instantaneously serviceable when removed from storage.

It is another object of this invention to provide an economically disposable cartridge magazine sufiiciently durable to withstand abuses inherent in field usage.

It is another object of this invention to provide an economically disposable form-sustaining cartridge magazine of plastic which ensures bind-free feeding of cartridges to the weapon therewith associated.

It is another object of this invention to provide an economically disposable form-sustaining, high impact strength plastic cartridge magazine.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail below.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, partly exploded, showing one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly cut away and partly in section, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, assembled and showing spring means therein;

FIG. 3 is an end view in section, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view in section, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective, partly exploded, showing an alternative embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG 6 is a side view, partly cut away of the embodiment of FIG. 5, showing closure (in phantom), load carrying, and follower and spring means;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 showing a thickened body portion;

FIG. 8 is an end view in section, of the insert of the embodiment of FIG. 5 and FIG. 9 is a plan view in section, taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6, with the follower and spring removed.

Generic to the two embodiments of the invention described below is the concept of utilizing magazine body 3,453,762 Patented July 8, 1969 structure of form-sustaining plastic combined with metal components adapted to control the forces exerted by fully contracted follower drive mechanism.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 a magazine body of plastic having side, end and open base portions is shown generally by 112, with lips or fingers 113 also of plastic. A lightweight cover fits about the top and lip portion 113 of the body 112 to exclude contaminants therefrom, and to protect the fingers from damage. This cap may be attached by means of leg 103 depending from the cap and cooperatively fitting the aperture 105. A lightweight metal base support 117 and metal container or control means 107 fixed to the body 112 at the lower and open base end thereof by, for example, retainer studs 108 cooperatively receives a follower spring 109 and a follower 110. The spring can be compressed with the follower and then both trapped entirely within the cup formed by base 117 and container 107 and shown generally by 1 16 and retained therein by means such as, for example, pin or pins 111 inserted through the wall structure of the container 107. During such time as the follower and spring are maintained trapped within the cup, lightly biasin spring means 101 shown mounted at 102 in the cap 100 can be employed to keep cartridges in alignment within the magazine. Lanyard 106 may be grasped to pull pin(s) 111 from the cup 116, releasing the follower and its spring to bear against cartridges (not shown) in the magazine body 112, and to flip off the protective cover 100 from the body 112. The magazine is thus readily made serviceable from the posture of storage. When not associated with the cap 100, the aperture functions as the usual latch hole. Strengthening of the body 112 may be effected by ribs or grooves, or both as shown, or by any other suitable means.

Alternative to the embodiment just discussed and preferred, FIGS. 59 illustrate a unitry, cup-like plastic magazine body shown generally by 202 having side, end and base portions. Metal container or control section 201 including base support means 211 for the spring is inserted within the body 202 so that the fingers 203, in this embodiment forming an extension of the metal section, just protrude above the cup 202. The two bodies may be fastened together, for example, in part by rivets 208, and in part by retaining claws 213 which grip the plastic body 202 adjacent the fingers 203. A lightweight cover 200 is provided to fit around the top or lip portion, exclude contaminants from the magazine, and to prevent damage to the fingers 203.

Follower 205 and follower spring 207 are installed within the insert 201 around follower strip rivet 206. Ribs and grooves may be employed, as shown, to strengthen the device, or any other suitable strengthening means may be utilized. The usual latch aperture 212 is provided.

The trapped-spring embodiment provides means to contain the follower and its spring entirely apart from the plastic magazine. This structure relieves the plastic material of internal stresses during storage. A number of plastics are known which can be formed into cartridge magazines such as 112 and as configured will be capable of carrying the full magazine spring forces at a low stress level. Polycarbonate material has properties which are satisfactory for this purpose.

The alternate embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein can utilize plastic materials which are less expensive that polycarbonate but which do not have properties that would allow them to contain the full magazine spring force at an acceptable stress level. Such a material would be high density polyethylene. In this embodiment, all the spring forces are constrained to act at all times within a path of metal and throughout the structure, from base to fingers.

Conventional follower spring means having good shelf life properties may be utilized with both embodiments. The trapped-spring magazine is made somewhat deeper than is standard to permit further compression of the magazine stack without additional stressing of the spring.

Both magazines utilize metal base elements to support the follower spring.

Disclosure of polycarbonate and high density polyethylene for use in the invention is merely suggestive of the variety of choices of plastics available, and is not intended or understood to be in any way limiting of the materials chosen for the article of the invention. Both of the plastics have high impact strength properties and are readily formed.

No limitation to a particular material for the cap or cover is intended beyond the requirement that it be protective of the magazine fingers, lightweight and economically disposable with the magazine.

The subject invention provides a cartridge magazine which can be quickly and easily formed from inexpensive materials and which meets stringent storage and use requirements heretofore satisfied only by metal and which plastic magazine is at the same time truly economically disposable. Economical long-term storage is also provided by use of either of these novel magazines.

I claim:

1. A cartridge magazine of high impact strength plastic, including finger and base portions thereof and having a follower and follower spring, removable means to cover at least the finger portion of the magazine, a metal cup for the base portion into which at least the follower spring can be compressed, removable pin means associated with the cup and adapted to entrap at least the follower spring within the cup and apart from the magazine, and connecting means between the removable cover and pin means to expedite readying of magazines.

2. A cartridge magazine of high impact strength, formsustaining plastic, including lip and wall portions which latter define an open base at their lower ends, a follower and follower spring for the magazine, removable means to cover at least the lip portion of the magazine, spring structure in said cover means to ensure maintenance of alignment of cartridges in storage, a metal cup attached to the base into which the follower and follower spring can be compressed, pin means removably associated with the cup and adapted to entrap the follower and follower spring entirely within the cup and apart from the magazine, and connecting means between the removable cover and pin means to expedite readying of magazines.

3. A cartridge magazine as in claim 2 in which the removable cover means is a lightweight cap snap-attached to the magazine, the connecting means is a readily grasped lanyard to provide facile removal of cap and withdrawal of pin means, and in which the cup is fabricated from lightweight metal.

4. A cartridge magazine of plastic, a follower and follower spring for the magazine, metal insert means lining at least a portion of the magazine as well as forming the usual magazine lips, and providing a metal path for the follower spring load, a metal base support for the spring, associated with the insert means, and removable means to cover at least the magazine lips.

5. A cartridge magazine of plastic, a follower and follower spring for the magazine, metal clip-type insert means lining at least a portion of the magazine as well as forming the usual magazine lips, and providing a metal path for the spring load, a metal base support for the spring, associated with the insert means, cover means removable from the magazine, and covering at least the magazine lips, and follower stop means associated with the magazine.

6. A cartridge magazine of high impact strength, formsustaining plastic, and having a follower and follower spring, a metal clip-type insert including a base portion to support the spring fitted within, attached to the magazine, forming the usual magazine lips, and providing a metal path for the spring load, a lightweight cap removable from the magazine and covering at least the lip portion thereof, and follower stop means additional to the lips and associated with the magazine.

7. A unitary cup-like cartridge magazine having side, end and base panels of high impact strength, form-sustaining plastic, a follower and follower spring for the magazine, a metal clip-type insert including a base portion to support the spring fitted within, attached to the magazine, forming the usual magazine lips, and providing a metal path for the spring load, a lightweight cap removable from the magazine and covering at least the lip portion of the magazine, and follower stop means fixed with respect to the magazine and apart from the lips.

8. The magazine claimed in claim 7 in which the insert has claws to grip the plastic cup.

9. A cartridge magazine of plastic, a follower and follower spring for the magazine, metal insert means lining at least a portion of the magazine as well as forming the usual magazine lips and providing a metal path for the follower spring load, and a metalbase support for the spring associated with the insert means.

10. A cartridge magazine of the class that is removed from the weapon after discharge of the cartridges contained therein comprising a plastic magazine body, including a base portion having a metallic reinforcing member of generally U-shaped cross section extending across the bottom of the magazine body and at least partially up the sides of the magazine body, a cartridge follower and follower spring in said body and releasable means operable between at least one leg of the U-shaped reinforcing member and said follower to confine the spring within said metallic reinforcing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,773,325 12/1956 Hill 425O 2,885,811 5/1959 Womble 42-50 2,910,795 11/1959 Agren 42-50 3,019,542 2/1962 Manthos 4250 3,087,270 4/1963 Stoner 4250 3,273,275 9/1966 Badali 4250 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,359,028 3/ 1964 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. XJR.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 97,354 involving Patent No. 3,453,762, R. D. Fremont, DISPOSABLE MAGAZINE HAVING A PROTECTIVE COVER AND FOLLOW ER RETAINING MEANS, final judgment; adverse to the patentee was rendered Sept. 22, 1972, as to claim 9.

[Ofi'icz'al Gazette February 6', 1973.] 

